Reading can transport people to other times and new places. And sometimes avid readers are so grateful for a lifetime of such journeys that they pay the opportunity forward through their wills.
Thanks to “a sizable donation” left by patron Francine Zanardo, who died in 2017, the Palos Heights Public Library is able “to dream big” in terms of programming, said library director Jesse Blazek.
On June 25 the library will present “Lisa See: Discussion and Book Signing” at Trinity Christian College’s Ozinga Chapel.
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“See is an author who’s a household name among big readers,” Blazek said. “She’s had multiple New York Times best-sellers.”
Her latest novel, “The Island of Sea Women” (Scribner; 384 pages), is the tale of two female divers and best friends “whose bonds are both strengthened and tested over decades by forces beyond their control,” according to See’s website (lisasee.com).
The story is set on the remote island of Jeju off the Korean peninsula. It’s very timely in the sense that Korea is and has been in the news a lot lately, Blazek said.
“But it’s also a little bit timeless in the sense that See tells a story that is so heavily embedded in the history of Korea, going back to the Korean War, World War II and Japanese colonialism. There are all of these huge historical events that have shaped the Korea we see today,” he said.
Hosting a big name author such as See, whose other works include “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane” and “Peony in Love,” is not something most suburban libraries have the resources to do, Blazek said.
See typically accepts speaking engagements that are on a big stage, he said.
The June 25 event will be on a big stage thanks to the library partnering with the college. That will enable more people to attend, he said.
The speaking engagement will be preceded by another special event that ties in with the author’s appearance. “Korea: Past and Present” will feature local Korea native Anna Kim on June 12 at the library. She will discuss the history, traditions and culture of Korea, providing an introduction to the backdrop of See’s new book.
Blazek said the Palos Heights Library “is already known for our programming. We have huge attendances. People seem to really gravitate toward the things we put on.”
Zanardo’s gift, he said, allowed the board and staff to pitch See and create a huge event for the community.
The library hopes to partner with other local groups to turn author visits into an annual event, he said.
Event planning, as well as organizing book discussion groups, is just part of the role of today’s public library, Blazek said.
“For a long time now libraries have been doing things that people who aren’t regular library users don’t know that we do,” he said.
Events enable people to go behind the scenes of the literary world, meet authors and find a forum to discuss books as opposed to just checking them out, he said.
Both the June events, he said, will offer insight into Korea’s past and present. Both are free and open to the public.
Lisa See: Discussion and Book Signing
When: 7 p.m. June 25
Where: Ozinga Chapel, Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College Dr., Palos Heights
Korea: Past and Present
When: 6:30 p.m. June 12
Where: Palos Heights Public Library. 12501 S. 71st Ave, Palos Heights
Admission for both events: Free
Information for both events: 708-448-1473; www.phlibrary.org/
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